Solar panel and timepiece including solar panel

ABSTRACT

A solar panel, above which a pointer mounted on a pointer shaft inserted in a through hole in a center portion of the solar panel moves, includes a plurality of solar cells arranged in a substantially circular shape, and these solar cells have been divisionally formed into a substantially spiral shape so that the pointer is positioned over two of the plurality of solar cells. Accordingly, the pointer can always be positioned over two of the plurality of solar cells, and therefore a decrease of light-receiving area due to the pointer can be distributed between the two solar cells. As a result, a decrease in the output current of the plurality of solar cells over which the pointer is positioned can be suppressed, and the output current of the entire plurality of solar cells can be improved.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 14/195,552, filed Mar.3, 2014, which is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from theprior Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-041639, filed Mar. 4, 2013,the entire contents of both of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a solar panel that is used in apointer-type timepiece such as a wristwatch or a pointer-type measuringinstrument such as a meter, and a timepiece including the solar panel.

2. Description of the Related Art

For example, a solar panel for use in a wristwatch is known in which aplurality of solar cells each formed into a fan shape so as to have anequal area are circularly arranged and connected in series, as describedin Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) Publication No.10-039057.

This type of solar panel is structured to have a through hole providedin its center and a pointer shaft inserted in the through hole toprotrude upward. On the upper end of the pointer shaft, a pointer ismounted, and moves above the plurality of solar cells.

In this type of solar panel, the value of output current obtained by theplurality of solar cells as a whole becomes equal to the value of thesmallest output current obtained by one of the plurality of solar cellsdue to electrical characteristics of a diode or the like.

Accordingly, when the pointer is positioned over one of the plurality ofsolar cells, the light-receiving area of the solar cell over which thepointer has been positioned becomes smaller than the light-receivingareas of the other solar cells.

As a result, the output current of the solar cell over which the pointerhas been positioned becomes smaller than the output currents of theother solar cells, and the value of the output current obtained by theplurality of solar cells as a whole becomes equal to this smallestoutput current of the solar cell. Thus, there is a problem in this solarpanel in that a loss of the output current of the plurality of solarcells as a whole is disadvantageously large.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is to provide a solar panel capable of improvingoutput current by dispersing a decrease of a light-receiving area due toa pointer by a plurality of solar cells, and a timepiece including thesolar panel.

In order to achieve the above-described object, in accordance with oneaspect of the present invention, there is provided a solar panel formedinto a substantially circular shape and having a through hole which isprovided in a center portion and into which a pointer shaft is inserted,and a pointer which is mounted on the pointer shaft and moves above thesolar panel, comprising: a plurality of solar cells arranged in asubstantially circular shape, wherein the plurality of solar cells aredivisionally formed into a substantially spiral shape such that thepointer moving above the plurality of solar cells is always positionedover at least two of the plurality of solar cells.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a timepiece comprising: a timepiece module having a timepiecemovement, a solar panel, a dial plate, and a housing; and a timepiececase where the timepiece module is placed, wherein the solar panel isformed into a substantially circular shape, and has a through hole whichis provided in a center portion and into which a pointer shaft isinserted, and a pointer which is mounted on the pointer shaft and movesabove the solar panel, and wherein the solar panel includes a pluralityof solar cells arranged in a substantially circular shape, and theplurality of solar cells are divisionally formed into a substantiallyspiral shape such that the pointer moving above the solar cells isalways positioned over at least two of the plurality of solar cells.

The above and further objects and novel features of the presentinvention will more fully appear from the following detailed descriptionwhen the same is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Itis to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for thepurpose of illustration only and are not intended as a definition of thelimits of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an enlarged sectional view of a timepiece module in a firstembodiment in which the present invention has been applied to apointer-type wristwatch;

FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B and FIG. 2C depict pointers of the timepiece moduledepicted in FIG. 1, of which FIG. 2A is an enlarged front view of asecond hand, FIG. 2B is an enlarged front view of a minute hand, andFIG. 2C is an enlarged front view of an hour hand;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of a solar panel of the timepiecemodule depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a connecting section of thesolar panel taken along line A-A in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front view of a modification example of the solarpanel of the first embodiment depicted in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged front view of a solar panel in a second embodimentin which the present invention has been applied to a pointer-typewristwatch;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged front view of a modification example of the solarpanel of the second embodiment depicted in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged front view of a solar panel in a third embodimentin which the present invention has been applied to a pointer-typewristwatch;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged front view of a solar panel in a fourth embodimentin which the present invention has been applied to a pointer-typewristwatch; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged front view of a modification example of the solarpanel of the fourth embodiment depicted in FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

A first embodiment in which the present invention has been applied to apointer-type wristwatch will hereinafter be described with reference toFIG. 1 to FIG. 4.

This pointer-type wristwatch includes a timepiece module 1 as depictedin FIG. 1.

The timepiece module 1, which is arranged in a wristwatch case (notdepicted in the drawing), has a housing 2.

On the upper surface of the housing 2, a solar panel 3 is arranged, anda dial plate 4 is arranged on the upper surface of this solar panel 3,as depicted in FIG. 1.

Inside the housing 2, a timepiece movement 5 is provided.

The timepiece movement 5 is structured to move pointers 7 such as anhour hand 7 a, a minute hand 7 b, and a second hand 7 c by rotating apointer shaft 6.

In this case, the dial plate 4 is constituted by a transparent ortranslucent film, and formed into a substantially circular shape.

On peripheral portions on the upper surface of the dial plate 4, timecharacters (not depicted in the drawing) are provided at predeterminedspacing.

The pointer shaft 6 has a cylindrical hour-hand shaft 6 a, a cylindricalminute-hand shaft 6 b rotatably arranged in the hour-hand shaft 6 a, anda second-hand shaft 6 c rotatably arranged in the minute-hand shaft 6 b,and is structured to protrude above the dial plate 4 via a through hole3 a provided in the center of the solar panel 3 and a through hole 4 aprovided in the center of the dial plate 4.

The pointers 7 are respectively mounted on an upper end portion of thepointer shaft 6 as depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C.

That is, the hour hand 7 a is mounted on the upper end of the hour-handshaft 6 a, the minute hand 7 b is mounted on the upper end of theminute-hand shaft 6 b, and the second hand 7 c is mounted on the upperend of the second-hand shaft 6 c.

As a result, the timepiece movement 5 is structured to move the pointers7 including the hour hand 7 a, the minute hand 7 b, and the second hand7 c above the dial plate 4 by rotating the pointer shaft 6 including thehour-hand shaft 6 a, the minute-hand shaft 6 b, and the second-handshaft 6 c.

In this case, among the hour hand 7 a, the minute hand 7 b, and thesecond hand 7 c, the minute hand 7 b is formed to have the largestsurface area as compared with the hour hand 7 a and the second hand 7 c,as depicted in FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C.

As a result, the area of the minute hand 7 b, which blocks externallight applied to the solar panel 3, is larger than those of the hourhand 7 a and the second hand 7 c, and therefore the minute hand 7 b hasthe largest influences on the light-receiving area of the solar panel 3.

Thus, in the following descriptions, the minute hand 7 b is mainlyexplained.

The solar panel 3 is formed into a circular shape, which issubstantially equal in size to the dial plate 4, as depicted in FIG. 1and FIG. 3.

This solar panel 3 includes a plurality of solar cells 11 to 16.

The plurality of solar cells 11 to 16 are arranged in a circular shapecentering on the through hole 3 a on the upper surface of a filmsubstrate 10, as depicted in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

In this case, each of the plurality of solar cells 11 to 16 isstructured such that a lower electrode 17 made of metal such as aluminumis formed by patterning on the film substrate 10, a power generationlayer 18 constituted by a semiconductor layer made of amorphous silicon(a-Si) or the like is formed by patterning on the lower electrode 17, atransparent upper electrode 19 made of ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) or thelike is formed by patterning on the power generation layer 18, and aprotective film 20 made of transparent insulating synthetic resin coversthe upper electrode 19, as depicted in FIG. 4.

As a result, each of the plurality of solar cells 11 to 16 is structuredsuch that, when external light is applied by passing through the dialplate 4, this light is applied to the power generation layer 18 throughthe transparent upper electrode 19, and the power generation layer 18generates electromotive force by the applied light, as depicted in FIG.1 and FIG. 4.

These solar cells 11 to 16 are structured by the circle corresponding tothe solar panel 3 being divided so as to have the same shape and area,as depicted in FIG. 3.

In this case, the plurality of solar cells 11 to 16 are divisionallyformed into a substantially spiral shape so that the minute hand 7 bmoving there above is always positioned across two adjacent solar cellsof the plurality of solar cells 11 to 16.

Also, the plurality of solar cells 11 to 16 are formed into thesubstantially spiral shape such that areas where the minute hand 7 b ispositioned across two adjacent solar cells of the plurality of solarcells 11 to 16 are substantially equal to each other, as depicted inFIG. 3.

Moreover, the plurality of solar cells 11 to 16 are each formed into ashape where the length in the circumferential direction graduallyelongates toward the radial direction centering on the through hole 3 a.

In this case, the plurality of solar cells 11 to 16 are each structuredto have an outer circumferential area E1 on the outer circumferentialside of the solar panel 3 and an inner circumferential area E2 on thethrough hole 3 a side of the solar panel 3, which are located atpositions shifted from each other in the circumferential direction andcoupled by a coupling section E3, as depicted in FIG. 3.

That is, the outer circumferential area E1 and the inner circumferentialarea E2 are each formed into a substantially fan shape having adifferent size, and the outer circumferential area E1 is provided at aposition shifted from the inner circumferential area E2 in the clockwisedirection.

As a result, the plurality of solar cells 11 to 16 are each formed intoa shape where the inner circumferential area E2 encroaches on the innercircumferential side (that is, on the center through hole 3 a side) of aportion of the outer circumferential area E1 positioned in thecounterclockwise direction.

In the case of these plurality of solar cells 11 to 16, for example, twosolar cells 11 and 12 are formed such that a side portion positioned inthe clockwise direction (right side portion in FIG. 3) in the outercircumferential area E1 of one solar cell 11 and a side portionpositioned in the counterclockwise direction (left side portion in FIG.3) in the inner circumferential area E2 of the other solar cell 12 areat positions slightly shifted from each other in the circumferentialdirection by the connection width of the coupling section E3, on thesame straight line in the radial direction centering on the through hole3 a, as depicted in FIG. 3.

Also, the outer circumferential area E1 and the inner circumferentialarea E2 are formed to have a different radial direction length inaccordance with the shape of the minute hand 7 b so that, when theminute hand 7 b is positioned across two adjacent solar cells 11 and 12,an area of the outer circumferential area E1 of one solar cell 11 overwhich the minute hand 7 b has been positioned and an area of the innercircumferential area E2 of the other solar cell 12 over which the minutehand 7 b has been positioned are substantially equal to each other, asdepicted in FIG. 3.

For example, the outer circumferential area E1 and the innercircumferential area E2 are formed such that the radial direction lengthof the outer circumferential area E1 is longer than the radial directionlength of the inner circumferential area E2, as depicted in FIG. 3.

As a result, the outer circumferential area E1 and the innercircumferential area E2 are structured such that two areas in the outercircumferential area E1 and the inner circumferential area E2 where theminute hand 7 b is positioned across two adjacent solar cells 11 and 12are substantially equal to each other.

As such, among the plurality of solar cells 11 to 16, not only two solarcells 11 and 12 over which the minute hand 7 b is positioned as depictedin FIG. 3, but also other solar cells 13 to 16 are formed to have theabove-described shape.

The coupling section E3 coupling the outer circumferential area E1 andthe inner circumferential area E2 together is preferably formed to havea sufficient connection width (for example, a width equal to or longerthan 1 mm) in order to decrease an electrical resistance value.

The plurality of solar cells 11 to 16 are sequentially connected inseries by a plurality of connecting sections 21 at the edge of thethrough hole 3 a provided on the center portion of the solar panel 3, asdepicted in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

That is, these connecting sections 21, which are formed of conductivepaste, are each structured to electrically connect the lower electrode17 of one of adjacent solar cells 11, 13, and 15 and the upper electrode19 of the other one of the adjacent solar cells 12, 14, and 16 together.

In this case, two solar cells 11 and 16 positioned at the last end amongthe plurality of solar cells 11 to 16 are not connected together by theconnecting section 21.

Accordingly, the upper electrode 19 of one solar cell 11 and the lowerelectrode 17 of the other solar cell 16 are connected to a pair ofoutput electrodes (not depicted in the drawing).

As a result, the solar panel 3 is structured to supply generatedelectric power to a chargeable battery (not depicted in drawing) of thetimepiece module 1.

Next, the operation of this pointer-type wristwatch is described.

Normally, with electric power supplied to the timepiece movement 5, thetimepiece movement 5 operates to rotate the pointer shaft 6, and thepointers 7 including the hour hand 7 a, the minute hand 7 b, and thesecond hand 7 c move above the dial plate 4 with the rotation of thepointer shaft 6 so as to indicate the time.

Here, external light such as sunlight is applied to the dial plate 4,and the applied external light passes through the dial plate 4 to beapplied to the plurality of solar cells 11 to 16 of the solar panel 3.

Then, the applied external light passes through the transparentprotective film 20 and the transparent upper electrode 19 of each of thesolar cells 11 to 16 to be applied to each power generation layer 18.With this applied light, each power generation layer 18 generateselectric power.

That is, when external light is applied, the power generation layer 18of each of the plurality of solar cells 11 to 16 generates electromotiveforce in accordance with the application amount.

By the solar cells 11 to 16 being connected in series by the connectingsections 21, the generated electromotive force is sent from the outputelectrode (not depicted in the drawing) of each of the solar cells 11and 16 at the last end to the chargeable battery (not depicted in thedrawing) of the timepiece module 1 for recharge.

As such, when the solar panel 3 generates electric power, the pointers 7moving above the dial plate 4 block part of the external light appliedto the solar panel 3, as depicted in FIG. 3. Therefore, among theplurality of solar cells 11 to 16, the light-receiving amounts of two ofthe solar cells 11 to 16 over which the minute hand 7 b of the pointers7 has been positioned are decreased.

In this case, for example, when the minute hand 7 b is positioned acrosstwo adjacent solar cells 11 and 12 among the plurality of solar cells 11to 16 as depicted in FIG. 3, an area of the outer circumferential areaE1 of one solar cell 11 over which the minute hand 7 b has beenpositioned and an area of the inner circumferential area E2 of the othersolar cell 12 over which the minute hand 7 b has been positioned aresubstantially equal to each other.

Therefore, even when the minute hand 7 b is positioned across two solarcells 11 and 12, both light-receiving areas are substantially equal toeach other, and an area shaded by the minute hand 7 b is substantiallyequally distributed between two solar cells 11 and 12.

As a result, a current value that is outputted by the entire solar panel3 is increased as compared with a structure where the minute hand 7 b ispositioned over only one of the plurality of solar cells 11 to 16.

For example, when an average area of a half of the minute hand 7 b inthe longitudinal direction is approximately 5.85 mm² and the solar cells11 to 16 each have an area of approximately 111.95 mm², thelight-receiving area of each of the solar cells 11 and 12 when theminute hand 7 b is positioned across two solar cells 11 and 12 isapproximately 106.11 mm².

Thus, the light-receiving area of each of two solar cells 11 and 12 overwhich the minute hand 7 b has been positioned is increased byapproximately 5.1% as compared with a case where the light-receivingarea of one of the solar cells 11 to 16 is approximately 95.26 mm² bythe minute hand 7 b being positioned over only one of the solar cells 11to 16.

As a result, the output current of the entire plurality of solar cells11 to 16 is increased by approximately 5.1%.

As such, in this pointer-type wristwatch, the solar panel 3 above whichthe pointers 7 mounted on the pointer shaft 6 inserted in the throughhole 3 a in the center portion move has the plurality of solar cells 11to 16 arranged in a substantially circular shape. These solar cells 11to 16 have been divisionally formed to have a substantially spiral shapeso that the minute hand 7 b of the pointers 7 is always positionedacross two of the plurality of solar cells 11 to 16. Therefore, adecrease of light-receiving area due to the minute hand 7 b isdistributed between two of the plurality of solar cells 11 to 16, andwhereby the output current of the entire plurality of solar cells 11 to16 can be improved.

That is, in the solar panel 3, the minute hand 7 b of the pointers 7moving there above can always be positioned across two of the pluralityof solar cells 11 to 16, and therefore a decrease of light-receivingarea due to the minute hand 7 b can be distributed between two of theplurality of solar cells 11 to 16. As a result, a decrease in the outputcurrent of two of the plurality of solar cells 11 to 16 over which theminute hand 7 b is positioned can be suppressed, and whereby the outputcurrent of the entire plurality of solar cells 11 to 16 can be improved.

In this case, the plurality of solar cells 11 to 16 are formed to havethe same shape and area size by equal division, and whereby thelight-receiving area of each of two of the plurality of solar cells 11to 16 over which the minute hand 7 b of the pointers 7 is positioned canalways be kept constant. As a result, fluctuations in the output currentof the entire plurality of solar cells 11 to 16 by the movement of theminute hand 7 b can be suppressed. Therefore, the output current of theentire plurality of solar cells 11 to 16 can be kept substantiallyconstant.

Also, the plurality of solar cells 11 to 16 are formed into a shape inwhich areas where the minute hand 7 b of the pointers 7 is positionedacross two of the plurality of solar cells 11 to 16 are substantiallyequal to each other. Therefore, the light-receiving areas of two of thesolar cells 11 to 16 over which the minute hand 7 b is positioned can beequally distributed to have the same area. As a result, a decrease inthe output current of two of the plurality of solar cells 11 to 16 overwhich the minute hand 7 b is positioned can be efficiently and equallysuppressed. Therefore, the output current of the entire plurality ofsolar cells 11 to 16 can be reliably improved.

Moreover, the plurality of solar cells 11 to 16 each having the outercircumferential area E1 and the inner circumferential area E2 are formedinto a substantially spiral shape such that the inner circumferentialarea E2 encroaches on the inner circumferential side of the outercircumferential area E1 adjacent to the inner circumferential area E2.Therefore, the minute hand 7 b of the pointers 7 moving above theplurality of solar cells 11 to 16 can always be reliably and favorablypositioned across two adjacent ones of the plurality of solar cells 11to 16.

In this case, the plurality of solar cells 11 to 16 are each formed intoa shape where the length in the circumferential direction graduallyelongates toward the radial direction centering on the through hole 3 aof the solar panel 3. Therefore, the area of the outer circumferentialarea E1 can be made sufficiently larger than the area of the innercircumferential area E2. As a result, areas of the plurality of solarcells 11 to 16 that are shaded by the minute hand 7 b being positionedthere over can be minimized. This can also improve the output current ofthe entire plurality of solar cells 11 to 16.

Furthermore, the plurality of solar cells 11 to 16 are connected inseries by the connecting sections 21 on the peripheral portion of thethrough hole 3 a provide in the center portion of the solar panel 3.This makes resistance to the influence of the pointers 7, and a widelight-receiving area can be ensured for each of the plurality of solarcells 11 to 16.

That is, at the peripheral portion of the through hole 3 a of the solarpanel 3, a light blocking period by the pointers 7 is long and powergeneration efficiency is low. Thus, by the connecting sections 21 beingprovided to the peripheral portion of the through hole 3 a, a loss ofpower generation due to a change in the light-receiving area by themovement of the pointers 7 can be reduced, whereby the power generationefficiency can be enhanced.

In the above-described first embodiment, the outer circumferential areaE1 and the inner circumferential area E2 of each of the plurality ofsolar cells 11 to 16 are formed into a substantially spiral shape bybeing coupled to each other and constricted by the coupling section E3.However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, asshown in a modification example in FIG. 5, a structure may be adopted inwhich a plurality of solar cells 23 to 28 are formed into asmoothly-curved spiral shape.

That is, it is only required that the plurality of solar cells 23 to 28are formed into a spiral shape where the radius of curvature isgradually increased from the through hole 3 a side of the solar panel 3toward the outer circumferential side of the solar panel 3.

In this case as well, it is only required that the plurality of solarcells 23 to 28 are formed into a spiral shape such that areas where theminute hand 7 b of the pointers 7 is positioned across two adjacent onesof the solar cells 23 to 28 are substantially equal to each other.

Also, each of the plurality of solar cells 23 to 28 is only required tobe formed into a shape where the length in the circumferential directiongradually elongates toward the radial direction centering on the throughhole 3 a.

With this solar panel 3 as well, operations and effects similar to thoseof the first embodiment can be achieved.

Second Embodiment

Next, with reference to FIG. 6, a second embodiment in which the presentinvention has been applied to a pointer-type wristwatch is described.

Note that sections identical to those in the first embodiment depictedin FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 are provided with the same reference numerals fordescription.

This pointer-type wristwatch has a structure identical to that of thefirst embodiment except that a plurality of solar cells 31 to 36 of asolar panel 30 has a structure different from that of the firstembodiment, as depicted in FIG. 6.

These solar cells 31 to 36 are structured by a circle corresponding tothe solar panel 30 being divided into six portions such that they havethe same shape and area, as depicted in FIG. 6.

In this case, the plurality of solar cells 31 to 36 are divisionallyformed into a spiral shape so that the minute hand 7 b of the pointers 7is always positioned across four sequentially adjacent ones of theplurality of solar cells 31 to 36.

Also, the plurality of solar cells 31 to 36 are formed into the spiralshape such that four areas where the minute hand 7 b is positionedacross four sequentially adjacent ones of the plurality of solar cells31 to 36 are substantially equal to one another, as depicted in FIG. 6.

Moreover, the plurality of solar cells 31 to 36 are each formed into ashape where the length in the circumferential direction graduallyelongates toward the radial direction centering on the through hole 3 aof the solar panel 30.

In this case, the plurality of solar cells 31 to 36 are each structuredto have a first area F1 located on the outer circumferential side of thesolar panel 30, a second area F2 located on the inner circumferentialside of the first area F1, a third area F3 located on the innercircumferential side of the second area F2, and a fourth area F4 locatedon the inner circumferential side of the third area F3, with these areasF1 to F4 being sequentially coupled by coupling sections F5 andsequentially arranged at positions shifted from each other along thecircumferential direction, as depicted in FIG. 6.

These first to fourth areas F1 to F4 are formed to have different sizesin accordance with the shape of the minute hand 7 b and to besequentially arranged at positions shifted from each other in theclockwise direction, as depicted in FIG. 6.

As a result, the first to fourth areas F1 to F4 are structured such thatthe entire shape obtained by combining these areas forms a fan shapehaving an opening angle of 60 degrees.

That is, the plurality of solar cells 31 to 36 are formed into a shapein which, with the first area F1 positioned at the outermost perimeteras a reference point, the second area F2 encroaches on the innercircumferential side of the first area F1 positioned in thecounterclockwise direction, the third area F3 following the second areaF2 encroaches on the inner circumferential side of the second area F2positioned in the counterclockwise direction, and the fourth area F4following the third area F3 encroaches on the inner circumferential sideof the third area F3 positioned in the counterclockwise direction, asdepicted in FIG. 6.

In the case of these solar cells 31 to 36, for example, two solar cells31 and 32 are formed such that the coupling section F5 coupling thefirst area F1 and the second area F2 together is provided between a sideportion positioned in the counterclockwise direction (left side portionin FIG. 6) in the first area F1 of one solar cell 31 and a side portionpositioned in the counterclockwise direction (left side portion in FIG.6) in the second area F2 of the other solar cell 32, as depicted in FIG.6.

Also, for example, the two solar cells 31 and 32 of the plurality ofsolar cells 31 to 36 are formed such that the coupling section F5coupling the second area F2 and the third area F3 together is providedbetween a side portion positioned in the counterclockwise direction(left side portion in FIG. 6) in the second area F2 of one solar cell 31and a side portion positioned in the counterclockwise direction (leftside portion in FIG. 6) in the third area F3 of the other solar cell 32,as depicted in FIG. 6.

Similarly, for example, the two solar cells 31 and 32 of the pluralityof solar cells 31 to 36 are formed such that the coupling section F5coupling the third area F3 and the fourth area F4 together is providedbetween aside portion positioned in the counterclockwise direction (leftside portion in FIG. 6) in the third area F3 of one solar cell 31 and aside portion positioned in the counterclockwise direction (left sideportion in FIG. 6) in the fourth area F4 of the other solar cell 32, asdepicted in FIG. 6.

In the case of these solar cells 31 to 36, the first to forth areas F1to F4 and the coupling sections F5 of the other solar cells 33 to 36 areformed similarly to the first to forth areas F1 to F4 and the couplingsections F5 of the solar cells 31 and 32, as depicted in FIG. 6.

Also, the first to fourth areas F1 to F4 are each formed to have adifferent length in the radial direction so that, when the minute hand 7b is positioned across four sequentially adjacent solar cells 31 to 34,the first to fourth areas F1 to F4 of each of the solar cells 31 to 34over which the minute hand 7 b has been positioned are substantiallyequal to one another, as depicted in FIG. 6.

That is, the first to fourth areas F1 to F4 are each formed such thatthe length in the radial direction is gradually shortened from the outercircumferential side of the solar panel 30 toward the through hole 3 ain the center portion, as depicted in FIG. 6.

As a result, the first to fourth areas F1 to F4 are structured such thatareas where the minute hand 7 b is positioned across four sequentiallyadjacent solar cells 31 to 34 are substantially equal to one anotheramong the first to fourth areas F1 to F4.

In the case of these solar cells 31 to 36, not only the four solar cells31 to 34 across which the minute hand 7 b has been positioned but alsothe other solar cells 35 and 36 are formed into a shape similar to thatdescribed above, as depicted in FIG. 6.

Also, as with the first embodiment, the coupling sections F5 couplingthe first to fourth areas F1 to F4 are each preferably formed to have asufficient connection width (for example, a width equal to or longerthan 1 mm) in order to decrease the electrical resistance value.

As a result, in the plurality of solar cells 31 to 36, in a case wherean average area for each quarter of the minute hand 7 b in thelongitudinal direction is approximately 2.80 mm² and each area of theplurality of solar cells 31 to 36 is approximately 110.17 mm², thelight-receiving area of each of the solar cells 31 to 34 when the minutehand 7 b is positioned across four solar cells 31 to 34 is 107.37 mm²,as depicted in FIG. 6.

Thus, the light-receiving area of each of four solar cells 31 to 34 overwhich the minute hand 7 b has been positioned is increased byapproximately 6.3% as compared with a case where the light-receivingarea of one of the solar cells 31 to 36 is approximately 96.17 mm² bythe minute hand 7 b being positioned over only one of the solar cells 31to 36.

As a result, the output current of the plurality of solar cells 31 to 36as a whole is increased by approximately 6.3%.

As described above, with this wristwatch solar panel 30, the minute hand7 b of the pointers 7 moving there above can be always positioned acrossfour of the plurality of solar cells 31 to 36. Therefore, a decrease oflight-receiving area due to the minute hand 7 b can be distributed amongfour of the plurality of solar cells 31 to 36. As a result, a decreasein the output current of four of the solar cells 31 to 36 over which theminute hand 7 b has been positioned can be suppressed more than the caseof the first embodiment, whereby the output current of the entireplurality of solar cells 31 to 36 can be significantly improved morethan the case of the first embodiment.

In this case as well, the plurality of solar cells 31 to 36 are formedto have the same shape and area size by equal division, and whereby thelight-receiving area of each of four of the plurality of solar cells 31to 36 over which the minute hand 7 b is positioned can be keptsubstantially constant. As a result, fluctuations in the output currentof the entire plurality of solar cells 31 to 36 by the movement of theminute hand 7 b can be suppressed. Therefore, the output current of theentire plurality of solar cells 31 to 36 can be kept substantiallyconstant.

Also, the plurality of solar cells 31 to 36 are formed into a shape inwhich areas where the minute hand 7 b of the pointers 7 is positionedacross four of the plurality of solar cells 31 to 36 are substantiallyequal to each other. Therefore, the light-receiving areas of four of thesolar cells 31 to 36 over which the minute hand 7 b is positioned can besubstantially equal to one another. As a result, a decrease in theoutput current of four of the plurality of solar cells 31 to 36 overwhich the minute hand 7 b is positioned can be efficiently and equallysuppressed. Therefore, the output current of the entire plurality ofsolar cells 31 to 36 can be improved more than the case of the firstembodiment.

Moreover, the plurality of solar cells 31 to 36 each having the first tofourth areas F1 to F4 from the outer circumferential side toward thethrough hole 3 a in the center portion are formed into a spiral shapesuch that the second area F2 encroaches on the inner circumferentialside of the first area F1 that is an area on the outer circumferentialside adjacent to the second area F2, the third area F3 encroaches on theinner circumferential side of the second area F2 that is an areaadjacent to the second area F3, and the fourth area F4 encroaches on theinner circumferential side of the third area F3 that is an area adjacentto the fourth area F4. Therefore, the minute hand 7 b of the pointers 7moving above the solar panel 30 can always be reliably and favorablypositioned across four of the plurality of solar cells 31 to 36.

In this case as well, the plurality of solar cells 31 to 36 are eachinto a shape where the length in the circumferential direction graduallyelongates toward the radial direction centering on the through hole 3 aof the solar panel 30. Therefore, the areas of the first and third areasF1 to F3 positioned on the outer circumferential side can be formed tobe larger than the areas of the second to fourth areas F2 and F4positioned on the inner circumferential side, respectively. As a result,areas of the plurality of solar cells 31 to 36 that are shaded by theminute hand 7 b being positioned thereover can be minimized. This canalso improve the output current of the entire plurality of solar cells31 to 36.

In the above-described second embodiment, the first to fourth areas F1to F4 in each of the plurality of solar cells 31 to 36 are formed into aspiral shape by being coupled to one another and constricted by thecoupling section F5. However, the present invention is not limitedthereto. For example, as in a modification example in FIG. 7, astructure may be adopted in which the first to fourth areas F1 to F4 areformed into a smoothly-bent spiral shape.

That is, it is only required that the plurality of solar cells 31 to 36are formed into a spiral shape where the bending angle is graduallydecreased from the through hole 3 a of the solar panel 30 toward theouter circumferential side of the solar panel 30.

In this case as well, it is only required that the plurality of solarcells 31 to 36 are formed into a spiral shape such that areas where theminute hand 7 b of the pointers 7 is positioned across four sequentiallyadjacent ones of the solar cells 31 to 36 are substantially equal to oneanother, as depicted in FIG. 7.

Also, each of the plurality of solar cells 31 to 36 is only required tobe formed into a shape where the length in the circumferential directiongradually elongates toward the radial direction centering on the throughhole 3 a.

With this solar panel 30 as well, operations and effects similar tothose of the second embodiment can be achieved.

Third Embodiment

Next, with reference to FIG. 8, a third embodiment in which the presentinvention has been applied to a pointer-type wristwatch is described. Inthis case as well, sections identical to those in the first embodimentdepicted in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 are provided with the same referencenumerals for description.

This pointer-type wristwatch has a structure identical to that of thefirst embodiment except that a plurality of solar cells 41 to 46 of asolar panel 40 has a structure different from that of the firstembodiment, as depicted in FIG. 8.

These solar cells 41 to 46 are structured by a circle corresponding tothe solar panel 40 being divided into six portions such that they havethe same shape and area, as depicted in FIG. 8.

In this case, the plurality of solar cells 41 to 46 are divisionallyformed into a spiral shape so that the minute hand 7 b of the pointers 7is always positioned across all of the plurality of solar cells 41 to46.

Also, the plurality of solar cells 41 to 46 are formed into the spiralshape such that areas where the minute hand 7 b is positioned across allof the plurality of solar cells 41 to 46 are substantially equal to oneanother.

Moreover, the plurality of solar cells 41 to 46 are each formed to havea substantially equal length (width) in the radial direction, and areformed into the spiral shape such that the radius of curvature isgradually increased from the through hole 3 a side of the solar panel 40toward the outer circumferential side, as depicted in FIG. 8.

Furthermore, the plurality of solar cells 41 to 46 are formed into thespiral shape so as to be spirally curved from the perimeter of thethrough hole 3 a of the solar panel 40 to the outer perimeter of thesolar panel 40.

With this wristwatch solar panel 40, the minute hand 7 b of the pointers7 moving there above can be always positioned across all of theplurality of solar cells 41 to 46, and therefore a decrease oflight-receiving area due to the minute hand 7 b can be distributed amongall of the plurality of solar cells 41 to 46, which is more than thefirst embodiment.

Accordingly, with this solar panel 40, the light-receiving areas of allof the solar cells 41 to 46 over which the minute hand 7 b is positionedcan be increased more than those of the first embodiment, whereby adecrease in the output current of all of the solar cells 41 to 46 overwhich the minute hand 7 b is positioned can be reliably and favorablysuppressed. Therefore, the output current of the entire plurality ofsolar cells 41 to 46 can be significantly improved more than the case ofthe first embodiment.

In this case as well, the plurality of solar cells 41 to 46 are formedto have the same shape and area size by equal division, whereby thelight-receiving areas of all of the plurality of solar cells 41 to 46over which the minute hand 7 b is positioned can be kept substantiallyconstant. As a result, fluctuations in the output current of the entireplurality of solar cells 41 to 46 due to the movement of the minute hand7 b can be suppressed. Therefore, the output current of the entireplurality of solar cells 41 to 46 can be kept substantially constant.

Also, the plurality of solar cells 41 to 46 are formed into a spiralshape so that areas where the minute hand 7 b of the pointers 7 ispositioned over all of the plurality of solar cells 41 to 46 aresubstantially equal to each other. Therefore, the light-receiving areasof all of solar cells 41 to 46 over which the minute hand 7 b ispositioned can be made substantially equal to one another. As a result,the output current values of all of the solar cells 41 to 46 over whichthe minute hand 7 b is positioned can be made substantially equal to oneanother. Therefore, the output current of the entire plurality of solarcells 41 to 46 can be significantly improved more than the case of thefirst embodiment.

Moreover, the plurality of solar cells 41 to 46 are each formed to havea substantially equal length (width) in the radial direction, and areformed into a spiral shape such that the radius of curvature isgradually increased from the through hole 3 a of the solar panel 40toward the outer circumferential side of the solar panel 40 and thesolar cells are spirally curved from the perimeter of the through hole 3a to the outer perimeter of the solar panel 40. Therefore, the minutehand 7 b of the pointers 7 moving above the solar panel 40 can always bereliably and favorably positioned across all of the plurality of solarcells 41 to 46.

In the above-described third embodiment, the plurality of solar cells 41to 46 are formed such that all of the lengths (widths) in the radialdirection are equal to one another. However, the present invention isnot limited thereto. For example, the plurality of solar cells 41 to 46of the solar panel 40 may be each formed such that the length (width) inthe radial direction is gradually increased from the through hole 3 a ofthe solar panel 40 toward the outer perimeter of the solar panel 40.

In this case as well, it is only required that the plurality of solarcells 41 to 46 are divisionally formed into a spiral shape such that theminute hand 7 b of the pointers 7 is always positioned across all of theplurality of solar cells 41 to 46.

Also, the plurality of solar cells 41 to 46 are only required to beformed into a spiral shape such that areas where the minute hand 7 b ispositioned across all of the plurality of solar cells 41 to 46 aresubstantially equal to one another.

In this solar panel 40 as well, operations and effects substantiallysimilar to those of the third embodiment can be achieved.

Fourth Embodiment

Next, with reference to FIG. 9, a fourth embodiment in which the presentinvention has been applied to a pointer-type wristwatch is described.

In this case as well, sections identical to those in the firstembodiment depicted in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 are provided with the samereference numerals for description.

This pointer-type wristwatch has a structure identical to that of thefirst embodiment except that a plurality of solar cells 51 to 56 of asolar panel 50 has a structure different from that of the firstembodiment, as depicted in FIG. 9.

These solar cells 51 to 56 are structured by a circle corresponding tothe solar panel 50 being divided into six portions such that they havethe same shape and area, as depicted in FIG. 9.

In this case, the plurality of solar cells 51 to 56 are divisionallyformed into a step-like spiral shape so that the minute hand 7 b of thepointers 7 is always positioned across all of the plurality of solarcells 51 to 56.

Also, the plurality of solar cells 51 to 56 are formed into thesubstantially step-like spiral shape such that areas where the minutehand 7 b is positioned across all of the plurality of solar cells 51 to56 are substantially equal to one another, as depicted in FIG. 9.

In this case, the plurality of solar cells 51 to 56 are each formed intoa shape where the length in the circumferential direction graduallyelongates toward the radial direction centering on the through hole 3 aof the solar panel 50.

Moreover, the plurality of solar cells 51 to 56 are each formed to havea substantially equal length (width) in the radial direction.

Furthermore, the plurality of solar cells 51 to 56 each have a firstarea G1 located on the outer circumferential side of the solar panel 50,a second area G2 located on the inner circumferential side of the firstarea G1, a third area G3 located on the inner circumferential side ofthe second area G2, a fourth area G4 located on the innercircumferential side of the third area G3, a fifth area G5 located onthe inner circumferential side of the fourth area G4, and a sixth areaG6 located on the inner circumferential side of the firth area G5, asdepicted in FIG. 9.

In this case, the plurality of solar cells 51 to 56 are each structuredto have the first to sixth areas G1 to G6 sequentially formed in astaircase pattern at positions shifted from one another along thecircumferential direction and sequentially coupled by coupling sectionsG7, as depicted in FIG. 9.

These first to sixth areas G1 to G6 are each formed to have a differentsize, and are sequentially formed at positions shifted from one anotherby 60 degrees in the counterclockwise direction.

As a result, the first to sixth areas G1 to G6 are structured such thatthe entire shape obtained by combining theses areas forms a fan shapehaving an opening angle of 60 degrees.

Still further, the plurality of solar cells 51 to 56 are formed into ashape in which, with the first area G1 positioned at the outermostperimeter as a reference point, the second area G2 encroaches on theinner circumferential side of the first area G1 positioned in thecounterclockwise direction thereof, the third area G3 encroaches on theinner circumferential side of the second area G2 positioned in thecounterclockwise direction thereof, the fourth area G4 encroaches on theinner circumferential side of the third area G3 positioned in thecounterclockwise direction thereof, the fifth area G5 encroaches on theinner circumferential side of the fourth area G4 positioned in thecounterclockwise direction thereof, and the sixth area G6 encroaches onthe inner circumferential side of the fifth area G5 positioned in thecounterclockwise direction thereof, as depicted in FIG. 9.

In this case, the plurality of solar cells 51 to 56 are structured suchthat the coupling sections G7, which are sequentially coupling the firstto sixth areas G1 to G6 so as to form a staircase pattern, are radiallypositioned at every 60 degrees centering on the through hole 3 a of thesolar panel 50, as depicted in FIG. 9.

In this case, as with the first embodiment, each coupling section G7 ispreferably formed to have a connection width equal to or longer than 1mm in order to decrease the electrical resistance value.

With this wristwatch solar panel 50, the minute hand 7 b of the pointers7 moving there above can be always positioned across all of theplurality of solar cells 51 to 56. Therefore, as with the thirdembodiment, a decrease of light-receiving area due to the minute hand 7b can be distributed among all of the plurality of solar cells 51 to 56.

Thus, the light-receiving areas of all of the solar cells 51 to 56 overwhich the minute hand 7 b is positioned can be increased more than thecase of the first embodiment. As a result, a decrease in the outputcurrent of all of the solar cells 51 to 56 over which the minute hand 7b is positioned can be reliably and favorably suppressed, whereby theoutput current of the entire plurality of solar cells 51 to 56 can besignificantly improved more than the case of the first embodiment.

In this case as well, the plurality of solar cells 51 to 56 are formedto have the same shape and area size by equal division, and whereby thelight-receiving areas of all of the plurality of solar cells 51 to 56over which the minute hand 7 b of the pointers 7 is positioned can bekept substantially constant. As a result, fluctuations in the outputcurrent of the entire plurality of solar cells 51 to 56 due to themovement of the minute hand 7 b can be suppressed. Therefore, the outputcurrent of the entire plurality of solar cells 51 to 56 can be keptsubstantially constant.

Also, the plurality of solar cells 51 to 56 are formed into asubstantially step-like spiral shape such that areas where the minutehand 7 b of the pointers 7 is positioned on all of the plurality ofsolar cells 51 to 56 are substantially equal to one another. Therefore,the light-receiving areas of all of the plurality of solar cells 51 to56 over which the minute pointer 7 b is positioned can be madesubstantially equal to one another. As a result, the output currentvalues of all of the solar cells 51 to 56 over which the minute hand 7 bis positioned can be made substantially equal to one another. Thus, aswith the third embodiment, the output current of the entire plurality ofsolar cells 51 to 56 can be significantly improved.

Moreover, the plurality of solar cells 51 to 56 are each formed to havea substantially equal length (width) in the radial direction, and areformed into a substantially spiral shape such that the length in thecircumferential direction is increased in steps from the through hole 3a of the solar panel 50 toward the outer circumferential side of thesolar panel 50 at every 60 degrees and the first to sixth areas G1 to G6are spirally curved in steps. Therefore, the pointers 7 moving above theplurality of solar cells 51 to 56 can always be reliably and favorablypositioned across all of the plurality of solar cells 51 to 56.

In the above-described fourth embodiment, the plurality of solar cells51 to 56 are formed such that all of the lengths (widths) of the firstto sixth areas G1 to G6 in the radial direction are equal to oneanother. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Forexample, as in a modification example depicted in FIG. 10, a structuremay be adopted in which a plurality of solar cells 61 to 66 of a solarpanel 60 are each formed such that the length (width) of each of thefirst to sixth areas G1 to G6 in the radial direction is graduallyincreased from the through hole 3 a of the solar panel 60 toward theouter perimeter of the solar panel 60.

In this case as well, it is only required that the plurality of solarcells 61 to 66 are divisionally formed into a substantially step-likespiral shape where the minute hand 7 b of the pointers 7 is alwayspositioned across all of the plurality of solar cells 61 to 66.

Also, the plurality of these solar cells 61 to 66 are only required tobe formed into a substantially step-like spiral shape such that areaswhere the minute hand 7 b is positioned across all of the plurality ofsolar cells 61 to 66 are substantially equal to one another.

With this solar panel 60, operations and effects substantially similarto those of the fourth embodiment can be achieved.

In each of the above-described first to fourth embodiments and themodification examples thereof, the connecting sections 21 connecting theplurality of solar cells in series are sequentially provided along theperimeter of the through hole 3 a of the solar panel. However, thepresent invention is not limited thereto. The connecting section 21 maybe sequentially provided along the outer perimeter of the plurality ofsolar cells.

Also, in each of the above-described first to fourth embodiments and themodification examples thereof, the present invention has been applied toa pointer-type wristwatch. However, the present invention is notnecessarily applied to a wristwatch. The present invention can beapplied to various pointer-type timepieces, such as a travel watch, analarm clock, a table clock, and a wall clock, and can also be widelyapplied to measuring instruments such as a pointer-type meter.

While the present invention has been described with reference to thepreferred embodiments, it is intended that the invention be not limitedby any of the details of the description therein but includes all theembodiments which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A solar panel formed into a substantiallycircular shape and having a through hole which is provided at a centerportion thereof and into which a pointer shaft is inserted, and apointer which is mounted on the pointer shaft and which moves above thesolar panel, the solar panel comprising: a plurality of solar cellsarranged in a substantially circular shape, wherein the plurality ofsolar cells are divisionally formed such that the pointer moving abovethe plurality of solar cells is always positioned over at least two ofthe plurality of solar cells, and wherein each of the plurality of solarcells is divided into an outer circumferential area and an innercircumferential area that are coupled by a coupling section, and thatare respectively positioned on an outer circumferential side of thecoupling section and on an inner circumferential side of the couplingsection, wherein a width of the coupling section is narrower than awidth of the outer circumferential area and a width of the innercircumferential area, and wherein the plurality of solar cells areformed into a shape in which areas where the pointer is positionedacross two or more of the plurality of solar cells are equal to eachother.
 2. The solar panel according to claim 1, wherein the plurality ofsolar cells are formed to have a same shape and area size by equaldivision.
 3. The solar panel according to claim 1, wherein the pluralityof solar cells are each formed into a shape where a length in acircumferential direction gradually elongates toward a radial directioncentering on the through hole.
 4. The solar panel according to claim 1,wherein the plurality of solar cells are connected in series byconnecting sections at perimeter portions of the through hole.
 5. Thesolar panel according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of solar cellsare each formed such that a width in a radial direction thereof isgradually increased from the through hole of the solar panel toward anouter perimeter of the solar panel.
 6. A timepiece comprising: atimepiece module having a timepiece movement, the solar panel accordingto claim 1, a dial plate, and a housing; and a timepiece case where thetimepiece module is placed.